ARTICLE: Is Jon Stewart the Most Trusted Man in America?, New York Times, By MICHIKO KAKUTANI, August 15, 2008

While I agree with the article's laudatory tone, meaning I see the void in our national discussion caused by venal politics and a sensationally stupid mainstream media and I appreciate how the "Daily Show" fills that void (Colbert is even sharper, but requires more internal filters to catch all the comedic angles), it still saddens me greatly that this is the best solution out there right now. I'm the last guy to argue against funny. It's my essential lubricant. But this is a sign of a disaffected public, and I find that very worrisome in this day and age. Too much is at stake globally right now for such a crisis in leadership to exist. Jon Stewart should be trusted to be who he is, but as I've often heard him comment, he really shouldn't be elevated beyond the satire in our national dialogue. We simply should be doing better to inform, leaving the entertainers to entertain. I'd admit it in a heartbeat: Stewart would probably do a better job hosting a presidential debate than anybody else out there. But wouldn't it be nice to laugh without cringing? In the end, I blame the Boomers. They recreated the national acrimony of Nixon's era, which is what they grew up with so they're like a dog going back to its vomit. That's why Stewart and Colbert rule, just like the political comics of that era did.